Despite the interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, a deal to take the wantaway forward back to the Premier League remains elusive.
After years of pining for a move to a so-called ‘bigger club’, Wilfried Zaha finally scratched that Champions League itch over in Istanbul, scoring in a famous winner away at his old employers Manchester United in the group-stages.
He won the Super Lig title too. Galatasaray smashed the 100-point barrier to nick the trophy from under the noses of bitter rivals Fenerbahce.
But, with Champions League football and silverware ticked off his bucket list, it appears that Zaha now has his heart set on a return to familiar surroundings.
Tottenham and Aston Villa in Wilfried Zaha race
HITC understands that Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are keen. As are an Aston Villa side who recently lost fellow wideman Moussa Diaby, and can offer Zaha the chance to dine at Europe’s top table again.
Watch out for Crystal Palace too. A bonafide club legend after two spells at Selhurst Park, the prospect of Zaha returning for a third act cannot be ruled out.
Especially after Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk confirmed a few days ago that the Ivory Coast international ‘wants to return to the Premier League’.
Zaha was left out of the squad for last weekend’s 2-1 win over Hatayspor.
And while the 31-year-old did return to training this week with serious offers still yet to arrive – per The Athletic – Zaha’s stance remains unchanged.
“Zaha asked to leave,” Galatasaray’s director of football Cenk Ergun now says, via Sporx. “We said that, if the conditions are met, (the offer) would be accepted. The process is ongoing.
“If the talks continue at the desired level, statements will be made.”
Eray Yazgan, the secretary general of Gala’s board of directors, also spoke out on Zaha’s future.
“Zaha is going through a transfer process,” Sporx quotes Yazgan. “We are progressing (in) this way. Other than that, we are a complete team.”
“If it works out, it works out. If it doesn’t, Zaha is a player we used last year and hope to continue using this year. Fortunately, we have players to replace him.
“This is exactly what we call squad planning.”
Crystal Palace must pay £15 million to make reunion happen
Zaha, despite some underwhelming displays at times, still ended his first – and potentially only season – in Turkey with 10 goals and five assists to his name.
Sporx do say, however, that Galatasaray want nearly £15 million. It remains to be seen whether any of his Premier League-based admirers are willing to cash up such a fee for a player who will celebrate his 32nd birthday in November.
Zaha would likely be a rotation option rather than a guaranteed starter at either Tottenham or Aston Villa. Spurs have already signed two left-wingers in Timo Werner – extending his loan from RB Leipzig – and Wilson Odobert, while Villa brought in both Samuel Iling-Junior and former academy kid Jaden Philogene.
Newcastle’s interest, meanwhile, may be affected by the Miguel Almiron situation.
Almrion could now stay at St James’ Park with rumours over a return to the Major League Soccer with an ambitious Charlotte FC outfit cooling.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
